one4review | On 11, Aug 2026

A double bill of Scotland’s next bright young things, and first to take the stage is Saoirse O’Hooligan.
She gets off to a strong start, and it’s delightful, getting the crowd immediately with the barbed comments she’s had about looking like a Mormon housewife. It’s a wonderfully sharp opening.
A great section about Grindr maps, where her non-gay brother apparently only uses it for cartology reasons, is absolutely inspired, the kind of detail that makes you realise this is an emerging major talent on show.
The underlying thread of her grandfather, whether that be football or Irish roots, is a delight. Still, the actual strength comes when she goes off into an intellectual fantasy, exploding a premise almost like retro fan fiction, with shades of the classic Aristocrats joke in structure, as if crafted by pre-SNL Chevy Chase and Amy Schumer. Yes, folks, she is that good.
Intellectual, smart and completely relatable, she has a unique, singular style that her peers haven’t reached yet – one of the finds of the Fringe.
Next up is Layla Adam. With her Saudi Arabian-American background, she has a lot to mine for comedy, and she does so brilliantly. She explains that Asmodeus is the patron demon of the lost, and the parallels that play inside her life. No subject is too small. Her dating fantasy gay werewolf fan fiction is great, as is a brilliant piece about her boyfriend’s family hairstylist pressuring her to get communicable haircuts from the same limited stylist.
Adam is simmering and cooking up something delightful. There are some great one-liners too, with “Burka-holics” and the idea that men should be put into Dhab showing a mind in full throttle, and a stage presence to match.
Both these comedians are in their very early 20s and, comedy-wise, good enough to play with the cool kids.
Problem is, they’re developing so fast they’ve already surpassed expectations. Expect to see them both invited to the adults’ table very soon.

****
Reviewed by Steve H

Pizza Geeks Easter Road – Back room (venue 220)
8th -30th 21:30